Overview
On June 16, 2026, in Bengaluru, Manipal Hospital Yelahanka announced that it had hosted Child Life & Beyond – A Symposium on Integrated Healing, a pioneering platform for Child Life education and integrated healing in India. The symposium was conducted in collaboration with experts from Texas State University, specifically the Child Life team led by Ms. Cindy Fitzpatrick and Ms. Amber Titus‑Love, along with their students.
Participants and Audience
The event brought together a diverse audience that included doctors, psychologists, nursing professionals, healthcare administrators, educators, Child Life specialists, and students. Notable Indian participants comprised Dr. Chetan Ginigeri, Director – Paediatrics and Paediatric Super‑Speciality Services, and a long list of distinguished clinicians: Dr. Kshitija Kulkarni, Dr. Jagdish Chinappa, Dr. Ravi Shankar Swamy, Dr. Harish Kumar H, Dr. Rashmi D. Huddar, Dr. Srinivas Raju, Dr. Namratha Upadhya, Dr. Gnanam Aram, Dr. Salim Khatib, Dr. Aravind Anand, Dr. R. Vasumathi, Dr. Vigraanth Bapu, and Dr. Sudarshan H. L. Organizational support was provided by Ms. Laya R., Ms. Bernice M. Rani, Ms. Ashra Fathima, and Ms. Ishika Mittal.
Key Messages and Quotations
Dr. Sushma Gopalan, Lead Consultant – Child Life Services, emphasized that while Child Life is well‑established globally, India is at the early stage of this journey and highlighted the importance of adapting global practices to Indian families, healthcare systems, and cultural realities. She stated, “Our goal is not to replicate another country's system, but to create one that works meaningfully for our patients.”
Ms. Cindy Fitzpatrick, Certified Child Life Specialist and Child Life Educator, noted the privilege of collaborating with Manipal Hospital Yelahanka and stressed a joint aim to develop care models that reflect India’s unique cultural values, family dynamics, and healthcare environment.
Dr. Chetan Ginigeri reinforced the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, saying, “When knowledge, compassion and collaboration come together, the impact on patient care can be truly transformative.”
Themes Explored
The symposium covered international Child Life practices, psychosocial care, emotional wellbeing in healthcare, evolving family dynamics, and multidisciplinary approaches to patient support. Speakers advocated moving beyond treating illness alone to address emotional and social experiences that influence recovery and resilience.
Significance
The event is positioned as a milestone in the evolution of Child Life services in India, laying groundwork for future international partnerships, knowledge exchange, and continued advancement of patient‑centred, family‑centred healthcare.
Additional Information
For further details, readers are directed to the Manipal Hospitals website: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/. The release was distributed by PRNewswire under an arrangement with the source, with PTI noting no editorial responsibility.